Description

In three floodplain forest restorations, established in abandoned agricultural fields in Illinois, permanent plots were sampled for 3 years to determine survivorship and density of planted tree seedlings, and species composition and density of natural regeneration. Planted tree survivorship decreased over time at all sites and after 3 years ranged from 32 to 61 percent. Planted density ranged from 780 to 1,330 individuals/ha and did not differ between species. Sapling/shrub stage natural regeneration ranged from 133 to 7,017 individuals/ha. Natural regeneration equaled or surpassed planted seedling density at two of the three sites. The site with greatest natural regeneration also had highest survival and density of planted trees.